After telling father and mother of what happened in town, father became furious and mother didn't look very good.
"How dare he threaten my daughter?!" Father said furiously. "Oliver, call Frank. Tell him to get here this instant."
Oliver who had just came back with tea was pale after seeing my father's anger.
"Y-Yes my lord. Right away." Oliver hurriedly left the lounge room to call for Sir Frank.
"F-Father, please quell your anger." I said with distraught. "Mother is not feeling well. I am afraid you would aggravate her more."
Father looked at mother worriedly. "I am sorry dear, I didn't mean to startle you."
"I-It's okay. But Ysa, why didn't I know of this." Mother looked at me worriedly.
I bowed my head feeling guilty. "I-I told Oliver and Sir Frank not to tell you because you were ill mother. I don't want you to feel burden because of this."
Mother looked very sad. I only did what I thought was right. She wasn't in good health and I was sure this news will only add to her worries. I am afraid that her health will decline with stress.
"I am such a useless duchess and mother." Mother said and started to shed tears. "While the duke is away, it should me my job to make sure everything is fine in the estate. But because of my sickness and my frail body, I had just become a burden to other people. Even my own daughter is worrying about me, which should be the other way around."
Mother was crying even more and my father was patting her to comfort her.
"Hush now dear. It is not your fault to be down with sickness." Father tried to comfort her. "Ysa was just thinking of your health. That is why she did not tell you."
My heart was squeezing in pain looking at my mother like that. It was not my intention to make her sad and cry.
"I am sorry mother." I slowly walked towards the ducal couple, not sure if it was okay to be near in such a situation. "I was just… I didn't want you to worry even more. Please don't be angry." I can feel tears at the rim of my eyes.
"Oh my baby, mother is not angry." Mother wiped away her tears. "I just felt useless. You are my only child. Of course I worry for you."
I looked up at the ducal couple and their face was full of love and worry towards me. My heart was feeling warmth with their loving stares.
"Come here Ysa." Father called for me with open arms and I walked towards them.
Father embraced me with the one arm while the other was around mother.
"You are my treasures. I would do anything to keep you both safe." Father said with a warm voice.
Mother and I were weeping together. This was familial love I am feeling right now. I am not sure if what I was feeling was from the former Alyssa or my own feelings as well.
In my former world, I was orphaned early in life. It was my grandparents who brought me up and when I started working they too were called to the afterlife. I never felt parental love in my former life.
*knock knock*
"Uncle, it's me Eric." Eric was just outside the lounge room.
I was waiting for him all along. I have asked him to bring Derrick with him to introduce to father. This was all planned by me.
"Come in Eric." Father said.
The door opened and Eric came in. After this past few months I was here, Eric was growing up rather dashing. After all this time, Eric resembled father more and more. Many people would really mistake him as father's illegitimate son.
"Good day uncle, aunt, Alyssa." Eric greeted. "I brought someone with me."
Behind him was Derrick. He was all cleaned up now, with clean clothes to wear. He looked different from when I first met him in the streets if town. His hair was cut shorter and dyed dark brown.
"Uncle, this is Derrick." Eric introduced. "He is the one that saved Alyssa from harm."
"Greetings Duke and Duchess Broderick. My name is Derrick." Derrick gave a respectful bow to my parents.
"So this is the one you are talking about Ysa?" Father asked.
"Yes father. He was the one who saved my life." I replied. "He was also injured in the process that is why I took him and his little sisters in."
"Is that so?" Father said. "In that case, I would like to thank you for saving my precious daughter Derrick. I will give you any compensation that you want. Do you have any family name?" He asked.
Father is still wary of Derrick. He wants to know his family name just to be on a safe side.
"I have no surname my lord." Derrick replied.
This is what we have talked about. Because Derrick and his sisters came from the fallen noble family of Montgomery, they are wanted from the neighboring kingdom of Alistaire. Father would never accept them if he knew this.
'Sorry for lying father.' I apologized inside my heart. 'But getting derrick on my side is a must for my future survival.'
"My siblings and I are only street children and we don't have any family name. We are also already orphans." Derrick said. "As for compensation, I am not asking any. I am already thankful to the little miss for taking me and my siblings in, giving as a place to stay and clean clothes to wear. And also feeding us and nursing me back to health."
"My daughter nursed you back to health?" Father looked at me curiously and all I could do was smile awkwardly to him. "If you are only street children, then where did you learn how to hold a sword and fight? I heard from my daughter you are quite a sword master."
Father was still suspicious of Derrick. This was normal because our ducal family is one of the four great ducal families of the Argentine kingdom. There are many people who envy us and would like to pull our family down from the high pedestal we are in.
"When I was eight, I met a mercenary who was a former knight from the neighboring kingdom, my lord." Derrick replied. "I am sturdier and had a well built compared to my peers on the streets and he took an interest in me. He wanted me to join his mercenary group and he thought me everything about he knew about the sword. Unfortunately he died before my training was over and I wasn't taken in his mercenary group."
This story was Eric's idea. He also helped us make a back story for Derrick and his siblings. I am happy that Eric was open to this and helping me out.
"Do not worry uncle, I have investigated his background and I have confirmed his background." Eric said. "You can feel at ease."
Father looked at Derrick and Eric alternately and sighed.
"If that is what you say Eric, then will I trust you. I trust your judgment." Father said and looked at Derrick. "If you don't want any compensation, then what can I give you. I cannot leave this life debt of my daughter unpaid."
Derrick looked awkward. This was my cue to get in.
"Father, I would like Derrick to be my personal aide." I said with resolute.
"Personal aide you say?" Father looked at me curiously.
"This is only temporary father. What I want is for him to train under your knights." I said. "Derrick has great potential. I know that he would be a great swordsman in the future and your group of knights would benefit from his skills." I looked at father with resolute eyes.
"Hmm…I am not sure." Father pinched his chin in thought.
"Father, pleeease…" I used my hidden weapon on my father, the cute puppy dog eyes.
"Aahhh, how can I resist my cute daughter? Hahahaa" Father patted my head and he walked towards where Eric and Derrick were standing. "Then I will do what my precious Ysa is asking. Eric also vouched for you so Derrick, don't let me down." Father smiled broadly.
After I saw father smile, I knew that he had accepted Derrick whole heartedly. I sighed in relief. I glanced at my mother who was still sitting on the couch, she looked ashen. I traced where she was looking at and saw Eric at the end of her sight. Eric was a spitting image of father and I am afraid my mother was thinking of those things again.
"Hahaha the two of you would make great knights in the future." Father said and patted both of the boys' head. "I will be expecting great things from both of you."
Looking at father and the two boys, they were like father and sons having a happy time. When I looked at my mother again, she fainted.
"Mother!" I was shocked with her suddenly passing out.
"Dear!" Father hurriedly went to my mother's side.
edited by: nalyn